1st week in Hungary

Csaladom!!!!!

geez..... where do I even begin????? first of all the keyboard that I am using is in Hungarian so it’s super hard to type!!! haha 

seriously.... I have no idea where to even start!!!!! there is so much that has happened and so much to tell all of you!!!

I guess first of all I’ll tell ya about my past week and what happened and then I’ll answer your questions! :)

so when I got off the phone with you guys I hurried and got on the plane. It was a huge... plane. never been on anything like it! I got an aisle seat thank goodness... ha and I was sitting next to this older lady on the plan, she was from France.. and she spoke pretty good English. anyway.. so I was just getting to know her.. li9ke asking where she was from... where she was going.. etc... and then she started to be really defensive.. and asked who I was.. and what my name badge said.. and then she started to ask why I did what did.. and what I actually do when I go on a mission.. what do I teach.. etc. then she asked where I was going.. oh dear... I apparently said a bad answer... I said "I am going to Hungary!" ..... and then... it seemed like the whole plane blew up! haha she freaked out and went off for about 20 minutes on how Hungary sucks.. and how terrible it is... and how all the people hate god... and etc. ha apparently the French hate Hungarians.. and Hungarians hate the French... I kid you not!! in Hungary.. when they want to insult someone because they don’t like them..... they say " GO TO FRANCE!!!" hahah I thought it was the funniest thing ever!!!!! haha anyway.. after I let her talk for what seemed like forever.. I started to ask her about religion.. and if she was religious or not and what she believed in.. and she told me that she was divorced.. and that her life sucked and she really didn’t believe in anything! so I started to talk about what we go and teach people to her and she pretty much put her hand in my face. ha she eventually said.. " are you going to be talking like this and asking me these questions the whole trip?" haha so.... that kind of ended that. anyway.. the plan ride was really long.. didn’t really sleep! it’s so hard to sleep on planes! so I got up every once in a while and went and talked to people. made some good friends. ha ,) the food on the plane.. was... not very good. ha I think they think we are birds or something? ha 

so we got to Paris! and I’m sorry!!  I literally tried for a half hour to get the phone to work but it wouldn’t! it wouldn’t accept anything American I swear! and no one around me spoke English.. so they couldn’t help!  but yea.. I felt really bad. sorry!!!! but I am glad that the mission president finally got the picture out. ha he told us he was going to do it that night.. apparently not.! so don’t worry! I am alive! and well! it was a weird feeling to be outside of the US. there are so many things that are different. it’s a cultural shock is what it is.. ha

then we got on the next plane to Hungary.. and it was about a 3 hour flight.. and I ended up sitting by this Hungarian guy! oh I was so excited. ha. and then when I said hi to him he started to speak English to me and we started to talk about who I was.. what I am doing.. where I am going.. where I came from.. etc. and then we started to talk about religion because he was a catholic. and for the whole 3 hours..... we talked about religion!!! I pretty much taught him all of the lessons. ha ha but he was super interested especially when I brought the book of Mormon in the discussion.! he was like what!? Christ visited the Americas?! how is that possible..??? so I pulled out some Hungarian set of scriptures that I luckily had in my bag.. and took him thorough the scriptures... because he was really well educated on the bible.. he knew like everything! he was a prime investigator. haha and anyway.. we talked about everything and I gave him a Hungarian book of Mormon and a pass along card that went tomormon.org and we exchanged emails and phone numbers and I’ll have to forward the email he sent me this week. it was a cool first experience. 

so when I first got to Hungary... it is really so flat! there are some small mountains.. but for the most part it is flat. when I first got to the airport we went and got our bags and then went and met the mission president.. and I’ll tell ya what.. these where my first thoughts that were going through my head. I can’t understand what anyone was saying.. it was definitely not the language that they taught us in the mtc.. they spoke so fast it sounded like Chinese.. they mumble a lot.. and everyone smokes and drinks here starting at the age of 12. it’s insane. and.. to be honest.. everywhere I go... I feel like I am on the strip in down town Las Vegas 24/7. the cultural differences... are extremely different. 

anyway.. we met the mission pres.. super nice guy. we had to take a bus for 40 minutes to Budapest to the mission home.. when we got there we had a really good Hungarian dinner.. then we had interviews with the mission pres. then we went on a walk to the top of the city.. it was so cool... by this time.. it was about dark and all the lights were on.. and there are tons of old statues everywhere.. and all of the roads are made out of that old roman brick... it is so cool. I’ll be sending pictures! then after we looked at that we headed back to the mission home.. grabbed some clothes.. and went to our hotel.. geez there is so much to say!!!!! okay just a couple random things that I think you’ll enjoy.. food here.. is totally different. and loaded with fat and oil. sometimes they have this stew.. where they literally throw the whole animal in there. so like.. fish soup... you see the eyes.. bones. everything.. pig soup is the worst.. because you can see literally every part of the animal. - other than that.. the food isn’t too bad! ,) the showers.. oh geez. don’t even get me started. they don’t have shower heads. you literally have to hold the shower while you shower. haha it’s pretty funny. then the toilets!!!!!!!! they are nothing like American toilets so be grateful!!!!! it’s the weirdest things.. it’s so crazy how you flush it! I got pics. 

so then after the overnight stay.. which was my first sleep in 48 hours. we went back to the mission home.. we walk everywhere btw. one day.. me and my comp.. walked for 1 hour straight to get to this ladies house.. and then right when we got there.. she called us and canceled on us. we do so much walking. ha 

and then we got back to the mission home and we had a meeting where we got our companions and our assignments. and I lucked out. I got the best one... and best place.. hahaha you guys are going to laugh when you here this... so I got my comp and his name is Elder Carter.. he is from Syracuse.. and he played football.. and he played against me my soph year... in that crazy game at weber state. and then.. when we played Syracuse for basketball.. at Syracuse.. he was one of those big guys on the front row making fun of me and yelling crap at me.. hhaha he said he specifically remembered that game right when he saw me for the first time. haha so funny huh? ironic... and he said that after we were making fun of you.. you just lit us up for 30 points. haha it was funny. he is a really nice kid.. and we get along so good. because we like a lot of the same things. it’s been fun so far. and we got called to the city győr..... its west of Budapest.. and we had to take a train to get there. it’s  a nice city.. I’ll send some pics.

it’s so hot and humid here.. haha I literally walk around all day with a shine on me. because I’m sweating all day every day. it’s great,) ha we do tons of tracking... people don’t really like to listen to us.. the language is getting easier.. I can’t understand very well.. but I speak better than I understand. everyone we go to is super freaked out at me because they can’t believe I can speak this well in just one week. and we attest it to the power of god and its true! it is really the gift of tongues. and actually one lesson.. this guy was freaked out that I could speak so well that  that alone... made him interested and reallz sparked something in him. it was really cool. when we bare testimony of the restoration... I wish you could feel the power and the spirit that comes into the room.. it’s amazing... but overall... the people are genuinely nice! 

our apartment.. is I guess the nicest apartment in the mission... I have pics and I’ll send. 

mail... when you guys want to send things.... you have to send it to the mission home.. I will never make it if you send  it directly to me in győr... the mailing system really sucks here. so that kind of sucks.. because the only time we get mail is when the zone leaders go to Budapest for meetings and then they will bring back the mail for us. so it’s like.. once.. maybe twice a month. so that’s that..

their ice cream is amazing here.. 

when we email.. we come to this library.. that is only like 5 minutes away from our place. which is nice. 

we go grocery shopping on Mondays.. and it’s really hard because they have absolutely no American stuff.. ha its good though.. I have some pics of what we’ve made. 

but other than that.. I still have tons of things to tell all of you but I am short on time... so I will write more next week! 

but everything is really good!!!!! I am alive.. I’m adjusted.. I got over jet lag.. that was hard.. every morning.. I was so tired.. I probably could’ve feel asleep while I was walking.. haha but now it’s good. 

in sacrament meeting.. I was asked to get up and introduce myself.. and share my testimony and 6that went good.!! members are reallz nice here. there is 1 ward in this city. so there is tons of stuff and tons of work to do!!!!!! 

I love all of you and miss you tons.. it really feels like a different life out here.. it’s the weirdest thing.. it’s hard. but its good. 

I love you and pray for you guys all the time! 

thank you for all that you guys do.. 

love you!

Watson Elder

Shad's Address is:  árpád ut 27 győr Hungary     , but don't send anything to this address because it probably won't make it.  Send it to the mission home.

 we had this stake thing called akadi vasén. and it was an all day stake party. alot of members from everywhere came. and haha i got to play catch with alot of hungarians. ha they.. dont quite know how to play football... ha it was fun though. i got a good burn though!! so hot and sunny!

5/8/2014

My family!!!!!

What a great.. busy.. quick.. long.. hard.. easy.. spiritual.. trying.. testing.. week this week! YES IT IS possible to have allllll of those in one week. every day in fact! its true! ha but i can finally SEE THE LIGHT!!!! i can see the end of the mtc and i can see the day when i finally get to Hungary! today.. i haven’t yet.. but today i should be getting the flight plans.. soooooo as i have been notified.. from the most beautiful girl in the world... that you have heard the news!!! i can call on mother’s day!!!!!:) and I’ve heard you got the time right!? DONT FORGET!!! haha please :) i am really excited! only a half hour.. but it’s okay! it is the first time that they have done this in the mtc! tons of first since I’ve been here. it’s crazy! but yea! so I’ll be telling you all about the plans then!

I’m impressed at how fast you got the sprinklers done.. now max.. i need you to write me and tell me the truth... what was it like? hahah jk. but i am happy it got done! i can’t wait to come home and see the changes! and to get your pictures! good work. haha

i have seen kasen... and i talked to him and encouraged him. and well.. as far as i know.. he is in HAWAII!!! glad for him. I’ll tell ya what.. the honest truth.. is that the MTC is truly the refiners fire for some. not easy! but I’m glad he made it.

travel prep.. yes. they do have a weight scale and yeah. I’ll make sure it’s not. and ill tell ya the rest of the details on Sunday at 3:45!

phone.. i can just buy a bunch of prepaid cards here at the mtc before i leave.. they offer them here. so that is good. no need to buy me anything. and I’ll tell ya the times I’ll be calling on Sunday too after i get the flight info!

so as far as my week went.. sorry this is shorter than normal.. we have not much time. we have to go to this museum of art.. and it is cracking down on time on our day. they finally let us out of the MTC! haha csoda! ha but anyway.. not much happened this week that was too different than last week! just a normal week!

But there was one awesome.. experience.. ELDER HOLLAND CAME on Tuesday! i was shocked! i was sitting on the 3rd row.. and oh my goodness.. if you think this man has power when he speaks just watching him in General Conference... you should hear him in person in a more private setting.!!! he literally will yell. it’s amazing! i love it! he has so much passion. it’s great.

sorry but i am out of time! but i will write (letters) more and tell you more on Sunday! don’t forget! :)

i love you guys and hope you guys have a great week!
i miss you and love you!

love,
Watson elder!



5/1/2014

Hey my amazing family!

i loved all of your letters.. dear elders.. this week! i loved hearing all about how things are going and i am so glad that i don’t have to do sprinklers.. haha sorry max;) and btw. max. thanks for making my deepest fear a reality... that picture of the shark and me in the water surfing.. yea... hahah how did you do that!? it actually looked really cool!

But i am glad that all of you are doing well! makes me happy!

Mom! yes! i did get their package.. please tell them thank you! and i am sorry to all those that i haven’t replied yet... ha or for a long time. Kind of have a limited time doing this and kind of got to just write to everyone at once! - but mom! yes! please send me the cut out of the newspapers that I’ve been in and with the pictures.. dad better have chosen better ones.. haha geez. ha jk:) dad- i loved your letter and your talk. that was a very deep, interesting talk on the spirit and i loved it and i try to apply it and master the language of the spirit every day! thank you so much! love ya!

Yes i got the instructions... for the seminary video and stuff! and we are working that out right now. i will be able to do it. just I’ve had some thoughts on it and i might just write a letter now.. then do a good video out when i am actually in Hungary for next year’s start of seminary video on missionary work. we are working it out but i am really excited to do it! it’s an awesome opportunity!

and about the flight plans... i should get them next Wednesday.. so when i get them i will tell ya all about them. and yes. i do need pre-paid call cards.. but they have them at the book store here on campus so i will just buy a bunch of them before i go. i can call every time i land when i am on layovers i think that’s how it works. so i am so excited to talk to you guys! it’s going to be awesome! only 2 more weeks! crazy! but so excited to get out to Hungary!

and with the supplies mom.. i will count them up today and then write you what i will need. sound good?

So! about my week! it was a really great week again and we are getting soooooo lucky without devotionals! they NEVER get this many apostles!!!!!

so on Sunday.. actually... a member of the seventy came... and he’s actually came twice now.. he was the one who spoke the first Sunday i was here. and i sat on the front row and he delivered a very good message to the bran new missionaries. BUT! again... i got to stop sitting on the front row or something.. because every time i do... something!!!!! HAPPENS! - so he was giving his talk on sacrifices.. and how even Ammon.. the sons of Mosiah.. etc. has gone through the same feelings and same afflictions that we are going through right now.. and those really can’t be explained until you are actually doing that.. i can try.. but you really don’t and can’t know what a mission is like until YOUVE BEEN THERE. it’s the weirdest thing! anyways.. he was talking about sacrifices... and he looked down at me and said... okay, elder, come up here. speaking to ME!!!!!!!!! and i was like.. micsoda...(what the miracle in Hungarian) and he had me get up in front of everyone and get on the big screens.. and it’s being broadcasted to all the other mtcs... and he had me tell everyone who i was, where i was going and what i sacrificed and why missionary work is so important. i was thinking.. oh geez... i could go hours on end on this subject! but i started to talk... and said where i was from where i was going... etc. and then i picked one thing i sacrificed.. and that was spending time with loved ones. and then he stopped me and asked everyone if they have been missing there families and loved ones and if they have sacrificed that same thing.. and everyone raised their hand.. and then he said.. okay continue.. and then i went on to talk about how important missionary work is and how the worth of EVERY soul is great in the site of god.. and i said a lot more things. but dad. don’t worry... i didn’t take up all his time like i did in priesthood leadership meeting with pres. shepherd ;) hahaha :) BUT it was the coolest experience!!!! i was sweating a little bit.. but it was good! such a cool and once in a life time opportunity again!!!!!!

then on Tuesday.. elder Christopherson came and spoke to us and gave a great great message on TRUST!
and i will share a quick quote at the end on what he said that i thought was so true.

but first, yesterday! another first for the MTC! they had me and my comp. Skype an actual Hungarian member and talk and give like.. a "family home evening" to them!!!!! it was the craziest thing! i was so nervous. and they talked so fast!!! BUT! it was so beneficial.. i learned 2 things. 1- i have a lot to work to do. but 2!!! i could actually talk.. back and forth, and understand most of what they were saying! and i could deliver a message and they could understand me just fine!!!!! crazy!!! i can actually survive in Hungary!!!! haha so that boosted my confidence a lot! it was so cool.
so I’ll just end with the spiritual thought. .. like i said.. elder chisopherson talked a lot about trust.. and how we can have god trust us. but he said a very profound thing that i would challenge each of you that read this to ponder it in your hearts.... it’s this.: " it is GREATER to be TRUSTED.. THAN it is to be LOVED" now.. when i first heard it was like what.... the first great commandment is to love god and to love everyone else. and god loves all of his children.. but then i pondered.. and thought.. and it is so TRUE! god loves all his children.. but he only trusts a very select few... and why is that? well that is your assignment this week! and i want to hear what you find! :) YES ! you have to REPORT!:) haha but really! it’s a great thought! think about it.. we love our family.. we love a lot of people.. but do we TRUST them??!?! in a lot of instances.. no we don’t. even though we love them.. we can’t trust them. now.. it presents the question.. how can we gain gods trust and our loved ones trust? well.. that is your scripture study assignment! because those who god trusts... has EVERYTHING god has. his power. his word. his love. his will. and everything they pray for.. they will receive because god knows and trust that one that he will not ask anything against gods will. BUT! let us always remember David. the David of David and goliath..? he was an amazing man.. did so many great and wonderful things.. was a great leader and really in favor with god and man. BUT! He fell into temptation and lost his eternal salvation... one of the biggest tragedies in the scriptures... he will never have that eternal increase or happiness... because of one act. ---  WE MUST BE THOSE WHO GOD TRUSTS FOREVER. WE MUST BE THOSE WHO OUR LOVED ONES TRUST FOREVER.

i love you guys and miss you!

have the best week! and have fun finishing the sprinklers;) haha

love ya!

Watson Elder